AFP Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay distanced himself from Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin's plan to "strongly recommend" the termination of business contracts with Chinese companies involved in China's reported incursions in South China Sea, particularly in the features claimed by the Philippines.
(PHILIPPINE ARMY / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
He said that such decisions are more properly addressed by “concerned agencies.”
"Designating or choosing construction companies for Build, Build, Build projects is beyond our purview, and I think, concerned agencies like the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highway), DOTr (Department of Transportation), are the agencies which are in the best position to answer these," Gapay said.
The military chief was asked for his views on the Department of Foreign Affairs secretary's statement during the Commission on Appointment's deliberation of his promotion rank of from the rank of lieutenant general to the rank of general.
Earlier, Locsin said he would consider recommending to the government the scrapping of the contracts with Chinese firms involved in their country's island-building activities in the South China Sea.
During the hearing, Gapay said he believes that the dealings of the government with the involved Chinese firms underwent appropriate processes under the government procurement law.
"Of course, all (of) these are governed by the Government Procurement Act. And I believe the awarding of such projects to these contractors have passed this process, and were subject to the provision of the Republic Act No. 9184," he told lawmakers.
On Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy to Manila maintained that the participation of Chinese companies and individuals in local construction activities is "legitimate, lawful and beyond reproach, lies entirely within its sovereignty."
Occidental Mindoro Representative Josephine Ramirez-Sato, who raised the matter in the CA's discussions, took note of Gapay's reported “evasiveness” in addressing this issue.
"This is just a recommendation, Mr. General, whether they should be blacklisted because this issue also has repercussions to our security concerns. It is just a question whether you would join (with) or are amenable (to) the recommendation of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs for blacklisting these companies. But if you cannot answer that, then I'll go to the next question," Sato told the AFP chief.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, who also asked Gapay about China's construction of artificial islands, said she appreciates the military official's deference to concerned national government agencies, "but when we are talking about the militarization of the disputed islands, pumapasok na, kumbaga, pasok na sa shop ninyo, dahil kayo nga 'yong institution na pinaka nagpo-protekta sa ating soberanya (it should already concern you because you are the primary instituion who protect our soveriegnty) in the aspect of national defense."
In the hearing, Gapay also said that the AFP, despite China's "gray zone" maritime tactics, maintains a diplomatic stance in the territorial dispute consistent with the administration's foreign policy.
"Yes, they have been doing this -- what they are saying is different from what they are doing in the area. And right now, we are addressing this through diplomatic means, still calling for a peaceful, rules-based order in dealing with the problem in the West Philippine Sea," he said, echoing the Palace's call for a "peaceful" resolution on the issue.
Gapay, however, maintained that the military continues to uphold and protect the Philippines' claims through naval presence and regular monitoring of the developments and actions of countries in the area.
"We'll protect our territorial waters and will maintain presence and will secure the remaining islands which we are occupying," Gapay added.